Inauguration of The Long Hike Jämtland in Surfbukten, Östersund

On Sunday, July 7th, The Long Hike Jämtland will be inaugurated in Surfbukten, Östersund. This event is the world’s longest organized hiking event for people with disabilities, stretching along St. Olavsleden from Östersund to Åre. It’s part of a larger initiative enabling people with various disabilities to experience wilderness and outdoor life under controlled conditions.

The Long Hike concept, created during the Year of Outdoor Life 2021, involves hikes over 20 kilometers. Its purpose is twofold: to give the target group an opportunity to experience nature and to promote social relationships between participants and co-hikers. This is particularly important for a social group where isolation and physical inactivity are common.

Quotes from Key Figures

Anders Andrae from WillUt, the initiator who began planning this year’s hike in 2023, says:

“I like challenges and work according to the motto ‘Everything is possible until proven otherwise’. I have previously rolled/hiked a lot in the Jämtland mountains, it’s a favorite area and last year’s assignment created a desire to test St. Olavsleden in a real situation. Now we will be about 10 wheelchairs plus co-hikers who will take on the route. We have received great support from both sponsors and co-organizers, otherwise this would not have been possible.”

Putte Eby from St. Olavsleden explains:

“We wanted to bring in an accessibility consultant with personal experience of disability and contacted Anders last year. The accessibility we’ve looked at is about simplifying for as many people as possible and contributing to people with disabilities being able to get out and take part in outdoor life. The advantage of St. Olavsleden is that you can easily hike or roll shorter distances and transport yourself by bus or train in between, you don’t have to take on the entire 580 km stretch. Now we know that the Östersund-Åre stretch works and we want to continue developing more parts of the trail for this target group. During the summer, for example, we will set up 16 accessible picnic tables along the Swedish side of the trail that you can easily access as a wheelchair user.”

Event Details

The inauguration program in Surfbukten on Sunday, July 7th includes live music, interviews with organizers and participants, and various activities such as tent demonstrations, test drives of electric all-terrain wheelchairs, and opportunities to learn about edible plants.

The entire hike consists of 8 stages, starting from Frösön and ending at Åre village, with a final ascent to the top of Åreskutan on July 15th.

This event not only promotes inclusion but also creates business opportunities for local companies. It aims to increase knowledge and awareness about the importance of accessibility in outdoor activities and tourism.

For more information about this groundbreaking event, visit the original article.